Anonymous asked: "What do you think would be wrong reasons for someone to be abstinent from sex until marriage? I mean, of course there are obvious pros to waiting (like not getting stds, unplanned pregnancy, whatever) but in which situations do you think that abstinence could possibly be harmful?"

These are not all-encompassing examples, but I think it’s harmful whenever people alter their sexual behavior:

-to fit in with their friends or to win favor with their peers-to conform to expectations based on their gender-due to a lack of information on or access to contraception and sexual health resources-out of shame for their sexual orientation or preferences

All of the above leads to a culture of silence around issues of sexuality. The result is that this incredibly integral part of our lives becomes a topic of misinformation and stigma, which translate into real-world consequences for human health and well-being.